One of the well-known of American writers is Samuel Clemens, whose pen name is Mark Twain. Born in 1835, Twain grew up in the Mississippi River town of Hannibal, Missouri. As did many other boys of his day, Twain dreamed of traveling on river boats and of someday becoming a riverboat pilot. Twain used his memories of the life of a river town in his two most famous books, Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.
As a young man, Twain held many jobs. He was a printer, a good miner, and, for a time, he was a riverboat pilot. During his pilot days, he adopted the name Mark Twain. This was a term used by the boatmen to mean that the water measured two fathoms, or twelve feet, which was deep enough for safe passage.
Finally Twain became a successful writer. He traveled a great deal, writing and speaking, and became very popular both in the United States and in Europe.
Twain's style. of writing was simple and direct. Among the things he wrote about were superstitious(迷信的)people and people who were easily fooled. He used his unusual gift for humor to write about many things of importance.
Generally speaking, this article is about ______.
A．a riverboat pilot
B．a printer
C．a gold miner
D．a famous writer
Gilbert Arenas was born on January 6, 1982 in Tampa, Florida. His father played college football at the University of Miami. In 1984, the pair moved to Los Angeles, California where Gilbert's father was an actor in commercials and soap operas.
When Gilbert was about 11, he started playing basketball. By the time Gilbert was 14, he was already the best player on Ulysses S. Grant High School in Van Nuys, California. He decided to wear the number "0" because people told him he would get "zero playing time". After his sophomore year, Gilbert decided to enter the NBA draft. Many coaches thought that Gilbert was not ready. As a result, he was drafted a disappointing 31st overall by the Golden State Warriors. Gilbert worked hard at Golden State, despite the fact his coach kept him on the bench for much of the season. When he finally got his chance, Gilbert averaged 14 points and 5 assists per game as the Warriors point guard.
After a successful individual year for Gilbert, it was time to test the NBA's free-agent market. Much to the disappointment of Warriors fans, Gilbert signed a 6-year, 65 million dollar deal with the Washington Wizards in 2003. Not surprisingly, he became an instant star with the Wizards. Fans loved to watch him race up the court, dish-off passes, and make difficult shots and lay ups. Although the Wizards only won 27 games his first year in Washington, Gilbert led them with 19.6 points per game. Gilbert, along with teammates Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison, led the Wizards to the NBA playoffs during his second year. The highlight of the decade for the Wizards was their post-season victory against the Chicago Bulls in the NBA playoffs.
16. What did Gilbert's father do for a living in California？.
A. He was an artist.
B. He was a basketball player.
C. He was an actor.
D. He was a football player.
17. When did Gilbert become the best player on Ulysses S. Grant High School？
A. When he was 11.
B. In 1984.
C. When he was 14.
D. As a junior in high school.
18. Why was Gilbert drafted a disappointing 31st overall by the Golden State Warriors？
A. Because many coaches thought that he was not ready.
B. Because the Golden State Warriors liked him very much.
C. Because his family has moved to the Golden State.
D. Because his performance is disappointing in the season.
19. Which of the following players did NOT help the Wizards make the playoffs in Gilbert's second year？
A. Gilbert Arenas.
B. Gold State Warriors.
C. Antawn Jamison.
D. Larry Hughes.
20. Which of the following words best describes Gilbert Arenas as described by the passage？
A. Overrated.
B. Hard-working.
C. Talented.
D. Both B and C.
Nelson Mandela was born in South Atrica on July 18, 1918. His tather was a Chiet of a tribe. Mandela had strong character even from he was a child and he respected national heroes very much. As the oldest son in his family, Mandela was appointed as the successor of the tribe, but he refuseD.He said he would never dominate a tribe, which was under oppressed, with a chief identity. He determined to throw himself into the career of the national liberation.
Mandela was educated at University College of Fort Hare and University of Witwatersrand and qulified in law in 1942. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944, and was sccessfully led the resistance against the apartheid policies. Nelson Mandela thus won the respect of all the blacks in South America.
In June 1961, he became the commander of the military organization of ANC . Because of his political activity, he went on trial for treason in 1956-1961 . In 1962, Mandela was arrested and stayed in prison for five years with hard labor. In 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
(Locked up in his cell during daylight hours, deprived of music, both these simple pleasures were denied him for decades. With his fllw prisoners, concerts were organized when possible, particularly at Christmas time,where they would sing. Nelson Mandela finds music very uplifting, and takes a keen interest not only in European classical music but also in African choral music and the many talents in South African musiC.Even years later, Nelson Mandela' s greatest pleasure, his most private moment, was sill watching the sun set with the music of Handel or Tchaikovsky playing.
He stayed in the prison for 27 yeas. During his years in prison, he consistently refused to compromise his political position to obtain his freedom. Mandela' s reputation grew steady. He became a potent symbol ofresistance as the anti-apartheid movement.
Mandela was eventually set free on February 18, 1990. The event was broadcast live all over the worlD.On the day of his release from prison, Mandela made a speech to the nation. He said, "To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first black President in the history of South Africa.
The years in jail reinforced his habits that were already entrencheD.From the 1940s, he had the disciplined eating regime of an athlete, and did early morning exercise everyday. Still today Nelson Mandela is up by 4:30 am,irespective of how late he has worked the previous evening. By 5 am he has begun his exercise routine that lasts at least an hour. Breakfast is by 6:30, when the day' s newspapers are reaD.The day' s work has begun.
With a standard working day of at least 12 hours, time management is crucial and Mandela is extremely impatient with unpunctuality, regarding it as insulting to those you are dealing with.
In his life time, he won nearly one hundred awards. In 1993, he was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, which was to commend his contribution in against racial discrimination for half a century. Nevertheless, Mandela accepted it as an accolade to all the people who have worked for peace.
56.Whom did Mandela respect in his childhood？
A.National athletes.
B.National heroes.
C.White people.
D.His parents.
57.Nelson Mandela refused to be the chief of the tribe because_____.
A.he dld not want to be like his father
B.he wanted to go to university
C.he did not want to be a leader of the tribe that was under opression
D.he wanted to become the president of South Africa
58.In Para.2, the word” apartheid" refer to the policies.
A.racial discrimination
B.immigration
C.economic
D.population growth
59.Mandela had great interest in the following music forms EXCEPT______
A.European classical music
B.African choral music.
C.American popular music
D.South American talents' music.
60.How long did Mandela stay in jail？
A.25years
B.27years
C.30 years
D.23 years.
